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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Hailey or Hayley?

61 replies

Whichname112233 · 07/01/2026 13:51

Me and DH like this name but both prefer different spellings

To me Hailey looks prettier but is more common as a US spelling

DH prefers the more commonly used in UK spelling of Hayley

OP posts:
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MovedlikeHarlowinMonteCarlo · 07/01/2026 17:37

Hayley is nicer than Hailey imo

Treylime · 07/01/2026 17:31

WonderingWanda · 07/01/2026 16:10

I feel old. To me Hayley is up there with old fashioned names from the 70's 80's, like Deirdre or Janet, they just seem dated to me. I suspect all of the people loving the name on this thread weren't alive then.

I agree that Hayley is a 70s/80s name but Deirdre and Janet are not 70/80s names.

Oldraver · 07/01/2026 17:25

As we have a village named Hailey and a Hailey Road wouldn't think of it for a name

Laveritas · 07/01/2026 17:22

Hayley looks prettier to me, I think because it looks nicely balanced with the two ys

Tina46 · 07/01/2026 17:07

Agree it feels very 80s. Same vibe as Gemma / Sarah / Zoe / Leah. I am more familiar with the spelling Hayley in the UK.

Kumquatzest · 07/01/2026 17:06

This name seems very 90s/2000s to me.
I'd go for Hailey but both spellings are fine.

HoLeeFuk · 07/01/2026 17:03

HugoYorway · 07/01/2026 16:20

Can't be arsed. Your argument is like saying Jenson wasn't inspired by Jenson Button.

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😂Sorry, I really thought you were being serious. If anyone else made the same mistake at least the joke information has been corrected.

bohemianwrapsody · 07/01/2026 16:25

There are 59 Hayleys and 67 Haileys in the 1921 England census. But they're mostly male.

HugoYorway · 07/01/2026 16:20

HoLeeFuk · 07/01/2026 16:11

Look at the census. I can't do it for you.

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Can't be arsed. Your argument is like saying Jenson wasn't inspired by Jenson Button.

greglet · 07/01/2026 16:13

Hailey is nicer, I think.

HoLeeFuk · 07/01/2026 16:11

HugoYorway · 07/01/2026 16:09

Prove it.

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Look at the census. I can't do it for you.

WonderingWanda · 07/01/2026 16:10

I feel old. To me Hayley is up there with old fashioned names from the 70's 80's, like Deirdre or Janet, they just seem dated to me. I suspect all of the people loving the name on this thread weren't alive then.

HugoYorway · 07/01/2026 16:09

HoLeeFuk · 07/01/2026 16:03

Yes and as first names for at least a century. There are both Hayleys and Haileys (first name) in the 1921 census. Well before either celebrity you mention.

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Prove it.

user593 · 07/01/2026 16:06

Hayley. But I prefer Halle.

Flatwhitefiend · 07/01/2026 16:05

I really like Hayley and would be in my top 10 list if we didn’t have an alliterative surname!

Hailey is nice too but agree with pp on swirly Ys.

Thewalrusandthecarpenter · 07/01/2026 16:03

I know a Haley which I prefer to either of the above. But that’s probably because I’m used to it.

HoLeeFuk · 07/01/2026 16:03

HugoYorway · 07/01/2026 15:35

Of course I'm not joking. @HoLeeFuk
Both names have been surnames for centuries.

Yes and as first names for at least a century. There are both Hayleys and Haileys (first name) in the 1921 census. Well before either celebrity you mention.

Lollylavender · 07/01/2026 16:01

Neither

Pistachiocake · 07/01/2026 15:55

HugoYorway · 07/01/2026 14:43

It's a surname as a first name. What is professional anyway?
It's like comparing Tayler, Taylor or Tayla.

Plenty of Hayleys my age in professional jobs.

Edited

Agree, the ones I know who work in professional jobs are the Hayley Mills spelling. Think it's a nice choice OP, not too traditional, but been around long enough to be recognisable. It doesn't seem to be a name that some people judge. Yes, I hate the idea of judging kids on names, but Hayley/Hailey etc doesn't seem to be prejudged as either too posh/trouble maker/over popular/over unique.

HugoYorway · 07/01/2026 15:35

Of course I'm not joking. @HoLeeFuk
Both names have been surnames for centuries.

HoLeeFuk · 07/01/2026 15:31

HugoYorway · 07/01/2026 15:27

@HoLeeFuk , the name is celebrity-inspired. If OP was inspired by the celebrity, I would have posted something along those lines.

Hayley as a first name is from Hayley Mills (daughter of Sir John Mills and Mary Hayley Bell). Hailey Bieber was named after Halley's Comet.

Are you joking? The name was not invented for Hayley Mills and the alternative spelling was not invented for Hailey Bieber.

HugoYorway · 07/01/2026 15:27

@HoLeeFuk , the name is celebrity-inspired. If OP was inspired by the celebrity, I would have posted something along those lines.

Hayley as a first name is from Hayley Mills (daughter of Sir John Mills and Mary Hayley Bell). Hailey Bieber was named after Halley's Comet.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/01/2026 14:51

I don’t think I’ve come across Hailey…looks a bit too much like unpleasant weather for my liking.

HoLeeFuk · 07/01/2026 14:49

HugoYorway · 07/01/2026 14:34

Neither. Both are celebrity-inspired. Hailey Bieber or Hayley Mills.

You could also use Hailee or Hayleigh, but that won't improve it.

Eilidh (pron. Aily) is nice.

Clearly not celebrity inspired or the OP would be using the inspiration's spelling.

HugoYorway · 07/01/2026 14:43

It's a surname as a first name. What is professional anyway?
It's like comparing Tayler, Taylor or Tayla.

Plenty of Hayleys my age in professional jobs.